OUGD603: Extended Practice - Ditto Press Studio Visit 'The Method'

Workshop #1 - Methodologies

In conjunction with part two of the Extended Practice module in which we are required to produce a publication which evidences a body of focused, in-depth and sustained research into a area of Graphic Design appropriate to our design strategy, Ben from Ditto Press came in to talk to us about different research methodologies.

Taking into consideration our own unique way of working and approaching a given brief for the workshop we were asked to create our own research methodology which could theoretically be applied to any given brief in order to gain knowledge on that subject.

A unique methodology is something that could consider a 'selling point' for our practice in the industry, why we are unique from the hundreds of different designers out there.

To devise ideas for a research methodology which I could implement in my practice I began to consider the thought process I went through when receiving a brief.

Not only when receiving a brief but with my practice as a whole I tend to have a more interactive approach. I much prefer the actual hands on approach drawing and making things rather than sitting at a computer. Personally when I go to the computer I shut down and I believe this stifles my creativity.

From this I came up with three cardinal statements which epitomise my hands on approach and that I would abide to for a given brief to inform my research and practical outcome

For our next workshop: A more in-depth idea of our methodology 

Workshop #2 - Crit

For our second workshop with Ben from Ditto Press we were required to have more in-depth idea on how our methodology would work and be applied to a brief.

In the same groups we were in for the first workshop, we went around around the table discussing our ideas.

I explained that throughout all aspects of my work I put a particular emphasis on a interactive approach,  therefore separating my practice into two; theoretical and practical I began listing possible activities I could undergo during each step of the brief which focus an interactive, hands on approach.

One conclusion we made from this process that all lot of what we had discussed when explaining our methodologies was what we all already do and had been taught to do. We were urged to think differently what it is particularly about our approach which makes us different.

Taking this into consideration we were given twenty minutes to produce a simple illustration on A3 piece of paper which demonstrates the concept behind our methodology and devise a name.

I decided to use the A3 paper to actually make something, thereby demonstrating my hands-on approach and my pretence towards interactive design. I named my methodology 'making stuff'.

The feedback I received was invaluable in terms of how I could develop my methodology and how it could be applied to a brief.

Given the example of a rebrand for a drinks company it was suggest I could make the the environment in which the drinks would be seen to gain a outside perspective, this also ties in with my interactive approach, as I would be taking into consideration how the audience would interact with the product.

It was also suggested I could experiment with a variety of material in order to produce mock-ups.

For our next workshop: Application and documentation of our methodology to a variety of briefs